UPDATE (10/23/2015, 10:07 AM PST): Hurricane Patricia has now upgraded to a Category 5 hurricane, the largest ever recorded. Winds have the potential to reach up to 200 mph with torrential rains.
OFF THE COAST OF MEXICO - Since we last covered Patricia, the storm has rapidly strengthened from a tropical storm into a Category 4 hurricane with 130 mph winds. Forecasters are now predicting Patricia will make landfall in Mexico Friday night, with the potential to bring even more powerful winds and intense amounts of rain.
“Confidence is increasing that Patricia will make landfall in the hurricane warning area as an extremely dangerous major hurricane Friday afternoon or evening,” said the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in an advisory issued at 2 p.m. EDT Thursday.
Hurricane warnings have been updated as follows:
- A hurricane warning now includes the Pacific coast of Mexico from San Blas to Punta San Telmo—including Puerto Vallarta and Manzanillo
- Hurricane watches are in effect east of Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas
- A tropical storm warning is in effect from east of Punta San Telmo to Lazaro Cardenas
As of 4 p.m. CDT on Thursday, Patricia was located about 250 miles south of Manzanillo, Mexico, or about 355 miles south-southeast of Cabo Corrientes, Mexico, according to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The NHC believes Patricia may still be strengthening, too, with the potential to reach near 150 mph (nearly Category 5 hurricane intensity) by Friday morning.
The worst conditions are expected Friday afternoon and evening, however, when destructive winds hit the Mexican Coast. According to the Weather Channel, Patricia is expected to dump 6 to 12 inches of rain over the Mexican states of Jalisco, Colima, Michoacan and Guerrero. Flash flooding and mudslides are possible, and localized amounts of rain may reach as high as 20 inches.
The storm surge is expected to produce significant coastal flooding, and Mexico's national water commission, CONAGUA, warned Thursday that there may be waves of up to 39 feet near the point of Patricia’s landfall.
The storm will weaken rapidly after hitting shore, forecasters say, but rain may be heading towards central and east Texas as well. Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for continued updates.
